● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 negative
Israeli Ad Tech Firm Discover-Tech Linked to Suspected Starlink User Tracking
Key points
- Discover-Tech linked to 'Shadow-Earth-79' surveillance effort.
- Firm was top bidder for Starlink-related ad space in 100+ countries.
- Activity concentrated in Syria, Libya, Yemen, South Sudan, Afghanistan.
- Researchers suspect data collection for user location or monitoring.
Discover-Tech Identified in Surveillance Report
Discover-Tech, an Israeli advertising technology company, has been identified by Reuters as the firm behind a suspected surveillance operation, codenamed 'Shadow-Earth-79', targeting Starlink users. This identification follows a report from TrendAI, the research arm of Trend Micro, which initially detailed the activity without naming the company. Six individuals familiar with the matter confirmed Discover-Tech's involvement.
Aggressive Bidding Patterns Raise Suspicions
The company reportedly acted as the top bidder for ad space associated with Starlink traffic across more than 100 countries. Researchers suspect this aggressive bidding was not for commercial advertising but rather to uncover user locations or facilitate further monitoring. The method exploits real-time ad auctions, where bid requests can carry user details that, when aggregated, could identify individuals or track their online activity.
Geographic Focus Points to Non-Commercial Intent
A key indicator of non-commercial intent was the geographic distribution of Discover-Tech's ad purchases. 'Shadow-Earth-79' was the largest ad buyer in Syria, Libya, Yemen, and South Sudan, and the second largest in Afghanistan. Significant shares were also observed in Hungary, Israel, Egypt, Azerbaijan, and Venezuela. TrendAI stated this pattern suggests a focus on 'targeting and tracking infrastructure' rather than typical commercial advertising, especially given the limited legitimate Western ad demand in sanctioned or war-torn regions.
Prior Scrutiny and Allegations
Discover-Tech was already under scrutiny prior to this report. On the same day TrendAI's report was released, Citizen Lab and ad security firm Confiant independently named the company. They alleged that Discover-Tech used ad auctions to collect user data across sensitive networks, including those linked to media organizations, governments, and tech firms, and acted as a 'facilitator for multiple mercenary spyware partners'.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Discover-Tech, an Israeli ad tech company, is reportedly tied to a suspected surveillance effort targeting Starlink users, according to a Reuters report. Researchers believe the firm's aggressive bidding for ad space in over 100 countries, particularly in conflict zones, was intended to reveal user locations or enable further monitoring. This development raises concerns about the potential misuse of ad auction data for surveillance purposes.